Chang gives us an intimate account of the lives of three generations of women, set against the continual political upheaval that was China in the twentieth century.

The story begins in the time of the author's grandmother, Yu-Fang. Among her indignities, she endured the painful practice of foot binding and the expectation of total subservience to her warlord husband.

Then there is Chang's mother, Bao Qin, who, at a young age, falls under the spell of the emerging Communist movement and its promise of equality for all. But her idealism and years of dedication to the party begin to unravel as Mao's Cultural Revolution takes its brutal toll.

Chang herself—the narrator and third generation in the story—must build a life from the ashes, and in doing so ultimately leaves her homeland behind.

Wild Swans is a deeply moving family story and an unforgettable lesson in history. It captivated me from the very first page and held me in its thrall to the very end.